Iti’s Attorney Files Report Alleging Abuse

The attorney representing Villa Park student Martin Iti on Sunday filed a report against Iti’s local guardian, alleging child abuse and illegal immigrant smuggling, in an attempt to have the teenager removed from his home and placed in a different environment while he awaits his return to the basketball court.

Ronald E. Lais, the attorney, wrote in the report that Courtney Rosegreen of Orange, Iti’s caretaker since bringing him to the United States from Australia in June 1998 to further his basketball career, is poised to have Iti transfer to a Las Vegas high school to continue his basketball career.

Such a move would constitute the 6-foot-11 center’s fifth high school transfer and, according to Lais, would continue Rosegreen’s trend of “exploiting the victim’s athletic skills for personal financial gain.”

Lais said the 17-year-old Iti, who is serving a one-year athletic suspension, is an illegal immigrant because his tourist visa expired 90 days after his entry into the United States.

Rosegreen did not return phone messages and Iti could not be reached for comment.